--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Design is the underlying skill that…" description: "\"Design is the underlying skill that activates innovation. If you want to innovate, you've got to design.\" — Marty Neumeier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marty-neumeier-21400_design_design-is-the-underlying-skill-that-acti_2726559.png" --- # Design is the underlying skill that activates innovation… ![“Design is the underlying skill that activates innovation. If you want to innovate, you've got to design.” quote by Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marty-neumeier-21400_design_design-is-the-underlying-skill-that-acti_2726559.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marty-neumeier-21400_design_design-is-the-underlying-skill-that-acti_2726559.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marty-neumeier-21400_design_design-is-the-underlying-skill-that-acti_2726559.png) > “Design is the underlying skill that activates innovation. If you want to innovate, you've got to design.” [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Design is the catalyst for innovation; without design, innovation stalls. **In simple terms:** Design triggers innovation. Key Takeaway Invest in design thinking to innovate. Themes innovation design creativity Mood inspirational pragmatic Type business creative When to use this quote - product development - branding - strategic planning Key Concepts systems thinking problem solving Questions to Reflect On - What design tools boost creativity? - How does design shape user experience? A Different Perspective Design alone isn’t enough. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activates Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activates-innovation-2922379/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Design Underlying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design-underlying-2922380/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Innovate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovate/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Want Innovate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-innovate-1250992/) ## Related quotes > [If you truly want to innovate, there will be some failures, and this can be difficult for some organizations - especially public companies managing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/if-you-truly-want-to-innovate-there-will-be-some-failures-and-this/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [I really want to be creative. I want to innovate. I want to be innovative, and I want to do things that are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/i-really-want-to-be-creative-i-want-to-innovate-i-want-to-be/) [Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/) > [I just want to innovate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/i-just-want-to-innovate/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [It's core to Amazon's culture that we want to innovate and think big, and it's great to be at a place like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-price/it-s-core-to-amazon-s-culture-that-we-want-to-innovate-and-think-big/) [Roy Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-price/) > [What you want to do is innovate on your product and your business model, management structure is not where I would try and innovate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/what-you-want-to-do-is-innovate-on-your-product-and-your-business/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You want to be the first to do something. You want to create something. You want to innovate something...I often think of Edison inventing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-keirsey/you-want-to-be-the-first-to-do-something-you-want-to-create-something/) [David Keirsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-keirsey/) > [Design is a conscious and intuitive effort to impose meaningful order. Design is both the underlying matrix of order and the tool that creates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-papanek/design-is-a-conscious-and-intuitive-effort-to-impose-meaningful-order/) [Victor Papanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-papanek/) > [Companies want to innovate. Companies that don't innovate wither on the vine. The connection between STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/companies-want-to-innovate-companies-that-don-t-innovate-wither-on/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [There is this group of people who love innovation. Those people want to innovate, and they think the Internet is a wonderful tool for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/there-is-this-group-of-people-who-love-innovation-those-people-want/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [When we launched If WeRanTheWorld, I said to my team, I want us to innovate in every aspect of how we design and operate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gallop/when-we-launched-if-werantheworld-i-said-to-my-team-i-want-us-to/) [Cindy Gallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gallop/) > [Continuous productivity manifests itself as an environment where the evolving tools and culture make it possible to innovate more and faster than ever, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sinofsky/continuous-productivity-manifests-itself-as-an-environment-where-the/) [Steven Sinofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-sinofsky/) > [“Discussing ideas can potentially increase the kinetic energy of ideas to a point where ideas turn into innovation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukant-ratnakar/discussing-ideas-can-potentially-increase-the-kinetic-energy-of-ideas/) [Sukant Ratnakar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukant-ratnakar/) > [“It is as simple as that. Birds fly because they have wings and so when you can’t grow the wings, you can’t be called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-as-simple-as-that-birds-fly-because-they-have-wings-and-so-when/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [To design something really new and innovative you have to reject reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/to-design-something-really-new-and-innovative-you-have-to-reject/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [ \[An engineer's\] invention causes things to come into existence from ideas, makes world conform to thought; whereas science, by deriving ideas from observation, makes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-mitcham/an-engineer-s-invention-causes-things-to-come-into-existence-from/) [Carl Mitcham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-mitcham/) ## More by Marty Neumeier > [The best design tool is a long eraser with a pencil at one end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/the-best-design-tool-is-a-long-eraser-with-a-pencil-at-one-end/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [Brand is not what you say it is. It’s what they say it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/brand-is-not-what-you-say-it-is-it-s-what-they-say-it-is/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [You can't be a leader by following a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/you-can-t-be-a-leader-by-following-a-leader/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [A brand is a person’s gut feeling about a product, service or organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/a-brand-is-a-person-s-gut-feeling-about-a-product-service-or/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [“Sift through threats for hidden possibilities. Every threat carries with it the potential for innovation. The problem of obesity contains the possibility of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/sift-through-threats-for-hidden-possibilities-every-threat-carries/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [Cultures are naturally resistant to change. The same shared mental models that allow large numbers of people to work together efficiently can also keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/cultures-are-naturally-resistant-to-change-the-same-shared-mental/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [A brand is a person's perception. Of course, it makes marketers nervous to think that marketing is out of their control, but that's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/a-brand-is-a-person-s-perception-of-course-it-makes-marketers-nervous/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [“Make a sketch, construct a model, or assemble a prototype. Then another. And another. With each attempt, you’ll reveal new possibilities for innovation. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/make-a-sketch-construct-a-model-or-assemble-a-prototype-then-another/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [“Creativity is the discipline you use when you don’t know the answers, when you’re traveling to parts unknown. On this type of journey, missteps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/creativity-is-the-discipline-you-use-when-you-don-t-know-the-answers/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [I see "demand creation" as a 20th-century construct that's bound up with advertising. It's an outmoded view of marketing that says, "First, we build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/i-see-demand-creation-as-a-20th-century-construct-that-s-bound-up/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [To achieve originality we need to abandon the comforts of habit, reason, and the approval of our peers, and strike out in new directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/to-achieve-originality-we-need-to-abandon-the-comforts-of-habit/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [“The cave you fear to enter, goes the ancient proverb, holds the treasure you seek.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/the-cave-you-fear-to-enter-goes-the-ancient-proverb-holds-the/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [Convincing isn't really possible in an age of customer control. Customers hold most of the cards today. They have good visibility into their choices,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/convincing-isn-t-really-possible-in-an-age-of-customer-control/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [The most innovative designers consciously reject the standard option box and cultivate an appetite for thinking wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/the-most-innovative-designers-consciously-reject-the-standard-option/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [Designers don't actually solve problems. They work through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/designers-don-t-actually-solve-problems-they-work-through-them/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) [Explore all 29 Marty Neumeier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) ## More Design quotes > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Plenty of white space and generous line spacing,and don't make the type size too miserly. Then you will be assured of a product fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giambattista-bodoni/plenty-of-white-space-and-generous-line-spacing-and-don-t-make-the/) [Giambattista Bodoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giambattista-bodoni/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [The market may never coalesce around one basic design, or even around two or three dominant devices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/the-market-may-never-coalesce-around-one-basic-design-or-even-around/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) [Jen-Hsun Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hsun-huang/) > [Design is not making beauty, beauty emerges from selection, affinities, integration, love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/design-is-not-making-beauty-beauty-emerges-from-selection-affinities/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [The beauty of New York is unintentional; it arose independent of human design, like a stalagmite cavern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-beauty-of-new-york-is-unintentional-it-arose-independent-of-human/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [I design some of my own clothes now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiernan-shipka/i-design-some-of-my-own-clothes-now/) [Kiernan Shipka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiernan-shipka/) > [Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we cannot avoid it… If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/programmers-are-always-surrounded-by-complexity-we-cannot-avoid-it-if/) [Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/) > [Design is a very personal thing. It's like art. Your personal choice plays a big role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gauri-khan/design-is-a-very-personal-thing-it-s-like-art-your-personal-choice/) [Gauri Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gauri-khan/) > [“Designing posters, for me, is not only a commercial pursuit but also a philosophical endeavor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fang-chen/designing-posters-for-me-is-not-only-a-commercial-pursuit-but-also-a/) [Fang Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fang-chen/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [Users are not designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-nielsen/users-are-not-designers/) [Jakob Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-nielsen/) > [I write the way you might arrange flowers. Not every try works, but each one launches another. Every constraint, even dullness, frees up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/i-write-the-way-you-might-arrange-flowers-not-every-try-works-but/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) [Browse all 5,563 Design quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Design is the underlying skill that activates innovation. 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